# Accident 20260815009929A: Mitsubishi MU-2B-40, Muskegon, MI, August 15, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 15, 2026, 14:00 local time
- Place: Muskegon, MI
- Airport: Muskegon County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.1677° N, 86.2354° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1677&lon=-86.2354&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5LC, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5LC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 (registry code 5780440, https://openairdocs.org/model/mitsubishi-mu-2b-40) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: AiResearch TPE331 series (registry code 01514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/airesearch-tpe331-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MITSUBISHI MU-2B-40
- Reported engine: AIRESEARCH TPE331 SERIES
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 3,100 total, 500 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA308) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260815009929A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

ON AUGUST 15, 2026, AT APPROXIMATELY 1359 EDT, A MITSUBISHI MU-2 SOLITAIRE AIRCRAFT, REGISTERED AS ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, EXPERIENCED GEAR-UP LANDING AT MUSKEGON AIRPORT (MKG), MI. THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY ONE PILOT, AND IT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER THE GUIDELINES OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91. FORTUNATELY, THE PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.

THE FLIGHT DEPARTED MUSKEGON COUNTY AIRPORT AT APPROXIMATELY 1338 EDT FOR A SHORT FLIGHT FOCUSING ON PRACTICING APPROACHES AND LANDINGS. AFTER A SUCCESSFUL TAKEOFF, THE PILOT CONTACTED THE TOWER AND RECEIVED PERMISSION TO PERFORM A VFR LANDING ON RUNWAY 14.  WHILE ON FINAL APPROACH, THE PILOT MISTAKENLY BELIEVED HE HAD LOWERED HIS LANDING GEAR AND CONTINUED ON THE GLIDE PATH USING PAPI LIGHTS WITH NORMAL SPEEDS.  HE TOUCHED DOWN LIGHTLY, IN HIS OWN WORDS, AND DIDN’T REALIZE WHAT HAD HAPPENED UNTIL HE HEARD THE GRINDING OF THE BOTTOM OF THE AIRPLANE ON THE RUNWAY.

THE LOCAL CONTROLLER, ONCE AWARE OF THE LANDING, CALLED ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ AND DIRECTED THE PILOT TO TURN OFF HIS ENGINE AND SHUT OFF FUEL IF ABLE. THE PILOT COMPLIED.  THE AIRCRAFT REMAINED UPRIGHT DURING THE LANDING AND SUFFERED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.  THE PILOT, HOWEVER, WAS NOT INJURED IN THE GEAR-UP LANDING.

A PRELIMINARY REVIEW OF THE METEOROLOGICAL DATA AT THE TIME AND LOCATION OF THE INCIDENT INDICATED NO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT MIGHT HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT. WEATHER AND METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS WERE NOT CONSIDERED FACTORS IN THE INCIDENT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR26LA308](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA308), Aug 15, 2026: Mitsubishi MU-2B-40 (N5LC), Norton Shores, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to extend the landing gear before landing.

## Other reports on N5LC (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20020121006689I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020121006689I), Jan 21, 2002: Mtsbsi MU2B40 (N5LC), Youngstown, OH, Minor damage. (-23) After departure, pilot could not get the gear unsafe (red light) to go out during retraction. Pilot attempted to extend gear but did not get an…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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